From the outside looking in, the US election system is a complicated process with a lot of different moving parts. So, ahead of November’s election day, we’ve put together a simple guide to how the presidential election system actually works.
There’s still some time to get to grips with the system before the votes roll in and decide the results of the US election bet.
Understanding the presidential election process
Part of what makes the US presidential election process so unique is the fact that it involves two types of votes. There’s the popular vote – which is pretty self-explanatory – and then there’s the more complicated Electoral College vote system.
But, before we get into the nitty gritty of how the Electoral College works, let’s lay out the general process and each of the main steps in a US presidential election race.
- Primaries and caucuses
The process of a presidential election starts early in the year with primaries and caucuses. This is where the Democratic and Republican parties determine which candidates will represent them in the upcoming race.
Primaries are held in most states, with voters choosing their preferred candidate from the given selection. These are either open – where any registered voter can participate – or closed – where only registered party members are allowed to vote.
States like Iowa hold caucuses instead of primaries, which are local gatherings where party members meet to discuss and vote on the candidates.
These votes determine delegates who will vote for the selected candidate at the party’s national convention.
- National conventions
During the summer of election year each of the political parties holds their national convention. This is where the delegates from the primaries and caucuses officially cast their votes to decide which candidate will be running.
Whichever candidate gains the majority of delegate votes becomes the official nominee, getting to decide their running mate for vice-president and cementing the party’s election platform.
- General election
Once November arrives the general election is held, with US citizens casting their votes for president as well as other elected offices like the House of Representatives.
But the actual result of the presidential election is not down to the popular vote and is ultimately determined by the Electoral College, so there is still a chance to bet on politics after election day passes.
- The Electoral College vote
Based on the outcome of the votes in their states, the electors of the Electoral College will cast their votes for president in December. Different states have differing numbers of electors, depending on their population size, and a presidential candidate needs a majority of 270 to be declared the victor.
How does the Electoral College work?
Now, let’s go into a bit more detail about the Electoral College. This is a feature entirely unique to the US election system and is what ultimately determines the outcome of the presidential race.
Each of the states is assigned a number of electoral votes equal to its representation in Congress, making up a total of 538 Electoral College votes. So, every state has at least three votes, but there are plenty of states that have significantly more.
Most states use a winner-takes-all system, where whichever candidate won the popular vote in that state receives all its electoral votes. Maine and Nebraska are the only exceptions.
This is why certain states are known as swing states, as they have the potential to shift the course of the election one way or another. Swing states are ones where neither party has a clear majority of support, as well as a higher number of electoral votes on offer.
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So, there you have it. That’s how the US presidential election system works.
